Hydraulic power unit

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic power system for supplying fluid power to hydraulically operated machines such as machine tools or the like which comprises a frame means, the upper portion of which includes a reservoir that serves the multiple function of enclosing certain components of the system, an upper panel that forms a mounting means for modulized system valving and read-out devices, and a lower reservoir wall that includes couplings between said certain components enclosed by said reservoir and external components of the system.

United States Patent 1191 Raymond Jan. 9, 1973 541 HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT 3,394,544 7 1968 Jackoboice ..60 52 us 3,411,296 11/1968 Peterson [75] Inventor. gal Mart E. Raymond, Zanesvllle, 3,425,574 2/1969 wingmbs et 3,487,431 12/1969 Forkner ..60/52 [73] Assignee: International Basic Economy Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Primary ExaminerEdgar W. Geoghegan Assistant Examiner-L. J. Payne Attorney-Schmieding & Fultz [57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic power system for supplying fluid power to hydraulically operated machines such as machine tools or the like which comprises a frame means, the upper portion of which includes a reservoir that serves the multiple function of enclosing certain components of the system, an upper panel that forms a mounting means for modulized system valving and read-out devices, and a lower reservoir wall that includes couplings between said certain components enclosed by said reservoir and external components of the system.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 9 I973 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. RAYMOND j .fJwliz.

' v ATT RNEYS PATENTEBJAN 9 I975 3,708,977

VQ F 94 84 4 H.E. 5 M 1/ "44/ 44 INVENTOR.

86 50 ROBERT E. RAYMOND JMa 4 A ORNEYS HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT This invention relates generally to hydraulic machines and, more particularly, to a novel self-contained hydraulic apparatus wherein the fluid reservoir and its associated mounting means are the key to the integrated design of the system.

In general, the hydraulic system of the present invention comprises aframe means, the upper portion of which provides the hydraulic reservoir for the system fluid and, in addition, includes a top wall for the mounting of modular control valves, novel filter apparatus that probe the bath of the system, as well as a unique heat exchanger which is removably mounted on the top reservoir wall and extended into the bath thereof.

As another aspect of the present invention, the frame means includes a lower portion that forms an enclosure or cabinet for the rotating hydraulic machines in the system. Such enclosure or cabinet serves the additional function of providing noise abatement means for such rotating electrical machines.

As another aspect of the present invention, the novel hydraulic system provides a unique approach to filtration in that the filters for the hydraulic flow are mounted directly on the reservoir thereby eliminating the need for filter housings and external piping.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the unique hydraulic system incorporates a filter arrangement which permits filtering to be selectively arranged for suction, by-pass or return line circuits, all of which can be readily arranged with a multiplicity of circuit options with the connections to the filter being made from within the reservoir.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel hydraulic system permits selected filter apparatus which are readily removable, replaceable and cleanable without disturbing conduit connections of the system and, indeed, without the need of interrupting system operation.

As another aspect of the present invention, the system further includes novel removable filter modules which are uniquely provided with both pressure gauge indicators and contamination indicators.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel hydraulic system includes filter elements which uniquely include by-pass relief valve operation incorporated directly within the filter which functions to control surge flows or saturated contamination conditions. I

Asanother aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic system, as a result of the unique arrangement of the upper reservoir frame portion and lower reservoir mounting means, inherently permits location of the pump with the reservoir overhead. Such arrangement insures that priming of the pump can never be a problem.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel hydraulic system inherently provides an acoustical enclosure for the rotating hydraulic machines whereby efficient noise abatement can readily be achieved.

As another aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic apparatus provides a top panel mounting surface for control valves, and more particularly, modular control elements, thereby eliminating the need for a separate mounting panel for a control apparatus.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel system inherently provides an economical housing for enclosing filtering apparatus, cooling components and also the basic control valves and any other auxiliary components all of which are readily mountable on the top panel without the need for external mounting brackets and piping.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the novel hydraulic system is adapted to provide vibration mounting for the rotating hydraulic machines, i.e., the pump and motor, on a base beneath the reservoir whereby said rotating group is adapted to have its pulses isolated from the rest of the hydraulic system.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic system, with its unitary design, is inherently adaptable to acoustically enclose, within sound abatement panels, the rotating hydraulic group such that the advantages of noise abatement techniques can readily be realized.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic system is provided with a vibration isolation mount for the rotating group of the apparatus which incorporates a novel pulse attenuator incorporated into the vibration mount and adapted to isolate -hydraulic pulses from the balance of the flow system.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a hydraulic system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hydraulic system of FIG. 1 showing such system with the front acoustical door removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the system of the preceding figures;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a typical hydraulic flow system for the hydraulic system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a hydraulic pulse attenuator comprising a portion of the hydraulic system of the preceding figures; and

FIG. 6 is an end sectional view through the system of I the preceding figures and showing details of the acoustical enclosure formed by the lower frame portion of said system.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 3 illustrate a hydraulic system constructed in accordance with the present invention which includes a frame means indicated generally at 20 provided with an upper frame portion forming a reservoir means indicated generally at 22 and a lower frame portion forming a cabinet or sound abatement enclosure indicated generally at 19.

Referring particularly to the upper frame portion forming reservoir 22, such portion comprises top wall 24, front wall 27, a rear wall 25 and end walls 21 and 23. r

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 3, top reservoir wall 24 functions as a mounting means for filters 32 and 34 provided with filter condition gauges 36 and 38 and inner filter portions 32-A and 34-A. In addition, top reservoir wall 24 serves as a mount for a heat exchanger assembly 40, as well as a modular control valve assembly 30.

The two filter apparatuses 32 and 34 are disclosed and described in detail in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 103,176 filed Dec. 31, 1970 and, in general, includes inner filter portions 32-A and 34-A extended into reservoir means 22 and provided with filter connections within said reservoir means, such that the filters can be readily removed, serviced and replaced.

With respect to the heat exchanger apparatus 40, such device is disclosed and described in detail in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 125,127 filed Mar. 18, 1971.

With respect to the modular control valve assembly indicated generally at 30, such valving apparatus is in general constructed of modular elements that can selectively be assembled in a plurality of arrays, and such modular control valve apparatus 30 is disclosed and described in detail in my co-pend-ing application, Ser. No. 852,231 filed Aug. 22, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,387 issued June 29, 1971.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 3, the enclosure or cabinet forming portion 19 of frame means includes a base plate 31 on which is mounted the rotating hydraulic machine group of the system, indicated generally at 48. This includes a hydraulic pump 44, which may be of the axial piston type disclosed and described in detail in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,363 for Hydraulic Machine, said hydraulic pump being driven by a suitable electric motor of a type well known to the art with such motor being indicated generally at 46.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the rotating hydraulic machines of the rotating hydraulic system 48 are supported on an isolated mounting plate 52 which is in turn mounted on frame base plate 31 by a plurality of vibration isolation mounts 54 and 56. Such mounts 54 and 56 can be formed of pads of fiber glass material or other suitable vibration damping material.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2, and 6, rotatin'g hydraulic system 48 includes a hydraulic pulse attenuator 50 which is formed by a cylindrical housing 102, end plates 107 and 108 which form a pulse attenuating chamber 110 and a discharge tube 104 mounted on one of the end plates 108 so as to receive fluid from an inlet tube 86 with fluid flow from chamber 110 being discharged via an outlet tube 88.

It should next be mentioned that reservoir means 22 includes a lower reservoir wall 26 provided with a plurality of couplings'60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 which function to make connections, within the reservoir means, between the hydraulic rotating group 48 and the reservoir mounted components including the filters 32 and 34, heat exchanger 40 and the modular control valve assembly indicated generally at 30.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the previously mentioned hydraulic pump 44 is connected to the interior portion 34-A of a suction filter- 34 via line internal line 76 and external line 84, said lines being connected by bottom wall coupling 60 of the reservoir. This connection furnishes flow to the intake pump 44.

Pressurized fluid from pump 44 is discharged via line 86 through chamber 110 of pulse attenuator 50 and thence to line 88, coupling 62, and line 84 to the modular control valve apparatus 30.

Return flow from the modular valve apparatus 30 to reservoir bath is through line 99.

Displacement of hydraulic pump 44 is controlled by an internal variable displacement mechanism described in detail in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,230 issued Feb. 28, 1967, and the connection for such pump control system is effected via dotted line 90, internal reservoir line 94, shown in dotted delineation, and coupling connecting such lines.

Cooling from the system proceeds from the pump cooling outlet via a line 92 to a coupling 70 and thence via internal reservoir line to the inlet of a heat exchanger 40. Outlet flow from the heat exchanger progresses via an internal reservoir line 78 to coupling 64, line 98 and then via coupling 66 to the internal connection of internal portion 32-A of return line filter 32. The pressure drop across return line filter 32 is indicated by a gauge 36.

lt should be mentioned that the vacuum across filter 34 is indicated by a gauge 38 via the line 76.

Referring in detail to the pulse attenuator 50, this apparatus comprises a chamber providing a volume of fluid, with such mechanism being mounted on the rotating assembly 48, said assembly being isolated by vibration isolation mounts 54 and 56. Such mounting arrangement isolates the hydraulic pulses from the frame means 22 as well as the other components of system. lt should be mentioned that the pulses in the' pressurized fluid leaving pump 46 via line- 86-88 are substantially attenuated by the capacitance or relative compressibility provided by the substantial volume of hydraulic fluid in chamber 110.

In general, pulse attenuator 50 functions in the manner of a condenser in an electric circuit and thereby functions to absorb the hydraulic pulses which normally would be injected into the system by the pulses of the pump pistons.

With reference to FIG. 6, the lower frame portion forming the acoustical cabinet 19 is provided with inner wall liners 1240f suitable acoustical material such as foam, fiber glass or the like, which serve to isolate the acoustical disturbances, produced by the rotating hydraulic group 48, from the environment. It should also be pointed out that a flow of coolant air is provided by a fan mechanism 126, provided by outlet 132 and an air inlet for the acoustical cabinet.

lclaim:

l. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame means forming mounting means for components of said hydraulic system, reservoir means forming the top portion of said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; filter means mounted on said top reservoir wall and including an inner filter portion within said reservoir; valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet; a hydraulic pump and motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said valving apparatus and filter means to thereby eliminate external interconnecting piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings; a fourth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said second conduit coupling with flow through said filter means.

2. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame means, a reservoir means on said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; filter means mounted on said top reservoir wall; heat exchanger means on said top reservoir wall and including a low heat exchanger portion extending into the bath of said reservoir means; manifold valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet; a hydraulic pump motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet, a pump outlet, and a pump cooling flow port; and a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said lower heat exchanger portion, said filter means and said valve inlet to thereby eliminate inter connecting external piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings; a fourth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said second conduit coupling with flow through said filter means; a fifth conduit connecting said coolant flow port with a third one of saidconduit couplings; and a sixth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said third conduit coupling with said lower heat exchanger portion.

3. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame means, reservoir means on said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet extending through said top reservoir wall; a hydraulic pump and motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said valve inlet within said reservoir to thereby eliminate interconnecting external piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; and a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings for delivering system flow through said bottom reservoir wall to said pump inlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; and .a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure; and a pulse attenuator within said acoustical enclosure between said pump outlet and said first one of said conduit couplings.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes 'a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; and a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure; and a pulse attenuator within said acoustical enclosure between said pump outlet and said first one of said conduit couplings. 

1. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame means forming mounting means for components of said hydraulic system, reservoir means forming the top portion of said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; filter means mounted on said top reservoir wall and including an inner filter portion within said reservoir; valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet; a hydraulic pump and motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said valving apparatus and filter means to thereby eliminate external interconnecting piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings; a fourth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said second conduit coupling with flow through said filter means.
 2. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame means, a reservoir means on said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; filter means mounted on said top reservoir wall; heat exchanger means on said top reservoir wall and including a low heat exchanger portion extending into the bath of said reservoir means; manifold valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet; a hydraulic pump motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet, a pump outlet, and a pump cooling flow port; and a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said lower heat exchanger portion, said filter means and said valve inlet to thereby eliminate interconnecting external piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings; a fourth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said second conduit coupling with flow through said filter means; a fifth conduit connecting said coolant flow port with a third one of said conduit couplings; and a sixth conduit within said reservoir and connecting said third conduit coupling with said lower heat exchanger portion.
 3. A hydraulic system comprising, in combination, frame meanS, reservoir means on said frame means including a top reservoir wall and bottom reservoir wall; valving apparatus on said top reservoir wall and including a valve inlet extending through said top reservoir wall; a hydraulic pump and motor mounted on said frame means and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet; a plurality of conduit couplings through said bottom reservoir wall for making fluid connections within the reservoir between said pump and said valve inlet within said reservoir to thereby eliminate interconnecting external piping; a first conduit connecting said pump outlet with a first one of said conduit couplings; a second conduit within said reservoir and connecting said first conduit coupling with said valve inlet; and a third conduit connecting said pump inlet with a second one of said conduit couplings for delivering system flow through said bottom reservoir wall to said pump inlet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; and a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure; and a pulse attenuator within said acoustical enclosure between said pump outlet and said first one of said conduit couplings.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; and a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure.
 9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame means includes a lower frame portion forming an acoustical enclosure for said pump and motor; a vibration isolation mount between said pump and motor and an inner wall of said acoustical enclosure; and a pulse attenuator within said acoustical enclosure between said pump outlet and said first one of said conduit couplings. 